clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Duke Blows Out BC In 2021 ACC Tourney Opener

And will get a rematch with Louisville on Wednesday

By JD King
ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament - First Round
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 09: DJ Steward #2 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts with his team following a three point basket during the first half of their first round game against the Boston College Eagles in the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 09, 2021 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Here’s the bad news: Matthew Hurt had a bad game against BC with eight points and four fouls.

But here’s the good news: Duke won by 35 anyway, 86-51. DJ Steward, Mark Williams and Jordan Goldwire picked up the slack.

Steward finished with 17, Williams had 13 and shot 6-7, while Goldwire came off the bench and hit four out of six three point attempts.

That was really the story for Duke on offense - the Blue Devils hit 15-32 from behind the line to just 1-15 for BC.

There are plenty of things to pick out as potential problems - Hurt had four fouls, Williams only had one rebound which is kind of hard to believe, and Duke had 16 turnovers, with about 1⁄3 of those by Wendell Moore with five.

But the good news is that the Blue Devils showed plenty of fight after an awful loss in Chapel Hill on Saturday and get to play again on Wednesday.

And there is one other bit of good news: that fat margin let the Blue Devils put everyone in which means that no one should be overly worn Wednesday (although Moore took a hard fall that he’ll probably be feeling tomorrow).

One final comment. It would be easy to look at BC and think what a bunch of losers.

On the contrary. Those guys had as difficult a year as any team in the country. They weren’t overly talented in the first place and Covid pauses further gutted them. Then their coach got canned in-season.

They could have just given up. They’ve done their best though and played and tried hard in very difficult circumstances and they deserve respect because people who do that aren't losers. They’re nothing but winners.

Jim will be along presently with his take on this game. Given the very different procedures in the Greensboro Coliseum, it may take longer than it normally does.

Poll

Player Of The Game vs. Boston College In The ACC Tournament

This poll is closed

  • 0%
    Wendell Moore
    (3 votes)
  • 0%
    Matthew Hurt
    (1 vote)
  • 7%
    Mark Williams
    (24 votes)
  • 65%
    DJ Steward
    (204 votes)
  • 0%
    Jeremy Roach
    (1 vote)
  • 1%
    Keenan Worthington
    (4 votes)
  • 1%
    Henry Coleman
    (6 votes)
  • 0%
    Jaemyn Brakefield
    (1 vote)
  • 1%
    Joey Baker
    (6 votes)
  • 0%
    Patrick Tapé
    (1 vote)
  • 4%
    Michael Savarino
    (15 votes)
  • 0%
    Mike Buckmire
    (3 votes)
  • 13%
    Jordan Goldwire
    (43 votes)
312 votes total Vote Now

More From Duke Basketball Report